Keep it Clean

The suspension of licences of several prominent food establishments in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is more than a routine enforcement exercise. Cockroach and fly infestations, unsafe food storage, poor sanitation and missing mandatory records are not minor lapses—they are serious public health risks. When well-known restaurants fail to meet basic hygiene standards, it raises an uncomfortable question: if reputed establishments cannot ensure food safety, what is happening in thousands of smaller eateries that escape regular scrutiny?

India's food industry has expanded rapidly, fuelled by urbanisation, tourism and the explosive growth of food delivery platforms. Yet food safety enforcement has struggled to keep pace. Periodic raids, licence suspensions and improvement notices often make headlines, but they rarely translate into sustained compliance. Once public attention fades, many establishments revert to business as usual until the next inspection.

Food safety cannot depend on occasional crackdowns. It requires a culture of accountability built on regular inspections, transparent reporting and meaningful penalties for repeat offenders. Consumers also deserve greater access to information. Hygiene ratings should be prominently displayed at restaurants and made available on food delivery apps, enabling people to make informed choices. Public disclosure can become a powerful incentive for businesses to maintain standards.

At the same time, regulators need stronger capacity. Thousands of food businesses cannot be effectively monitored without adequate staffing, modern testing facilities and technology-driven surveillance. Smaller establishments should also receive training in food handling and hygiene, ensuring that compliance is practical rather than merely punitive.

Ultimately, food safety is not about protecting reputations—it is about protecting lives. Contaminated food can lead to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, hospitalisations and even fatalities, particularly among children, the elderly and those with weakened immunity.

The Maharashtra FDA's crackdown should not remain a one-off spectacle. It must become the beginning of a nationwide commitment to treating food safety as a non-negotiable public health priority. Clean kitchens should be the norm, not an achievement celebrated only after inspectors uncover what customers were never meant to see.